Three-month-old baby Boston has a rare disease called hemophagocytic lymph histiocytosis (HLH), a rare auto-inflammatory condition, where the immune system attacks itself.
The only way Boston could heal is through a stem cell transplant. OMNI’s Arvin Joaquin spoke to Boston’s parents, who say the reason they’re having trouble finding a match for their son, is due to the lack of mixed-race donors in the Canadian and worldwide stem cell registries.
His father, Rex de Castro, said “he’s doing much better, just receiving chemotherapy and steroids to help keep him well until then.”
The Covid-19 pandemic has only added to family’s worries. “It was awful at first, since there was Covid I couldn’t be there with them,” Castro said.
“It wasn’t until things got worse, that I was allowed to come in.” Castro said.
The couple continues to apply for donors between the age groups of 17-35, because they need the donor to be half Filipino and half Caucasian.
Arvin Joaquin, who was the lead reporter on this story, speaks about the impact it has had on the Filipino community. Listen in-
Canada
OMNI Filipino Year in Review: 3-month-old Winnipeg baby fights for his life, due to lack of stem cell donors
